When we launched Menno Tea from our Goshen College dorm rooms in 2011, our aim was simple:  to brew delicious tea inspired by a family recipe from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  But as Menno Tea grew, we found that our Mennonite roots gave us more than just a name for our tea - they gave us a set of values to guide our practices.  Here’s how our background shapes where our business is today and where we hope to take it tomorrow:

SIMPLICITY

Growing up in communities that valued simple lifestyles, we learned how less can be more, even when it comes to ingredients.

Today: Our recipe is simple: we use a small number of ingredients you can pronounce. Our business is straightforward, too: we make good tea and sell it to stores, who sell it to you.

Tomorrow: As we release new flavors, including a range of Seasonal teas using local produce, we’ll continue to apply this commitment to simple recipes and straightforward practices.

COMMUNITY

Our shared background taught us that we’re interdependent members of community, and that we can’t go it alone. We’re grateful to all members of the Menno Tea community who grow, brew, bottle, pack, ship, sell, and enjoy Menno Tea, and we’re committed to contributing to this community.

Today: Menno Tea contributes to the Everence Sharing Fund, which provides matching fund grants to community members in need.

Tomorrow: As we expand, we look forward to learning about new ways to contribute to the community that makes Menno Tea possible. We’re open to suggestions, so please pass yours along!

SUSTAINABILITY

We grew up in agricultural areas, where we learned to cultivate a sustainable relationship with the land that makes wholesome food—and beverages—possible.

Today: Our bottles incorporate recycled materials and use the minimum amount of glass needed to hold 16 ounces of goodness. We also package our tea for shipment with the goal of minimizing waste. In the summer of 2015, Menno Tea expanded in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where the recipe originated. This move allowed us to take steps toward using locally-sourced, organic ingredients and reduced carbon emissions by bringing ingredients closer to bottling facilities.

Tomorrow: As our business grows, so will our opportunities to make sustainable choices. Over the coming months and years, we will be strengthening our connection to local agriculture, further improving our supply chain.